“Drink some water. Don’t do anything stupid. Well, more stupid than drunk-dialing a coworker. Seriously, not smart. You know,” he says, tapping his chin, a mischievous gleam in his eye, “I could go to HR for this.”

Human resources at our company is about as useful as square wheels on a bicycle, but ice still fills my veins and my vision nearly doubles. “You wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t I?” His smile is tight and unreadable. “See you in the Galápagos.”

“See you in hell.”

He tips his head back and laughs. After a ripple of movement across the screen, the call ends. I blink. He hung up on me. He hung up on me? “That asshole,” I mutter. Ripping my earbuds from my ears, I shove them into my purse.

My heartbeat thunders and my chest rises and falls like a ship pitching on the waves in a storm. That did not go at all the way I planned.

After a quick detour to the bathroom, I return to our table. The cold water I’ve splashed on my face has done nothing to cool the fire burning in my veins and the heat in my cheeks.

“I just Venmoed you twenty bucks, but let me know if you need more for the food—hey, are you okay?” Christina puts her phone down to peer at me as I sit with a plop.

“I’m fine.”

“She’s upset over Graeme,” says Walsh through a mouthful of nachos. “Did you tell him off?”

“Hold up, what’s going on with Graeme?” demands Christina. “I mean, besides the usual bickering.”

Time to spill the beans. “We had a meeting with James today, and it turns out we’re both up for the new digital marketing director role.”

“You are?” Tory blurts at the same time Christina squawks, “Henley! Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I just found out not even two hours ago. I was going to tell you, but then I didn’t want to steal your thunder.” I motion toward Tory and Michelle. “Babies beat promotions.”

Tory clucks. “What did James say? What are your next steps?”

I suck in a deep breath. “Well, he’s sending me and Graeme on a cruise to the Galápagos in two weeks as part of the selection process. He wants us to come up with a plan for how to boost sales in the region, and, guys, I need to kill it. I have to come up with the best marketing idea in Seaquest Adventures history. I don’t want there to be even the slightest chance of Graeme getting this promotion over me. And you know how much James loves Graeme,” I add darkly.

Tory hisses in a breath through her teeth. “He really does,” she says to Michelle, who inclines her chin sympathetically.